Five local body polls by July ’27 

LGRD State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said on Tuesday that, the government plans to complete elections to five local government bodies union parishads, municipalities, upazila parishads, zila parishads and city corporations by July next year. 

Speaking to journalists after a meeting with Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Moller at the Secretariat in Dhaka he said, the government will hold discussions with the Election Commission (EC) next week about holding the elections. 

“However, the EC will have the authority to decide the election dates and schedules,” he added. 

Asked about preparations for the five local government elections, Mir Shahe Alam said the institutions are under the Local Government Ministry. The ministry will provide necessary support, including election expenses and other related matters.

He said the government is also considering when the terms of the respective institutions will end and what preparations will be needed to hold the elections.

Asked about the EC’s preparations for announcing the election schedule, the State Minister said the EC itself will announce the schedule. He said the commission would be able to provide detailed information on the matter.

Asked whether the government had made any proposal for holding the elections, he said around Tk 6,000 crore has been allocated in the current fiscal year's budget for the five local government elections.

Regarding his meeting with the Danish ambassador, the State Minister said Denmark is interested in cooperating with the capital's water supply management.

He said Denmark would cooperate in managing water supply in the capital. The country will also provide assistance to complete the third phase of the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant project.

Under this phase, Denmark will provide Tk 4,500 crore in assistance for the water treatment plant, which is being built at a cost of Tk 16,000 crore.

Of the assistance, Tk 1,500 crore will be provided as a grant, while the remaining Tk 3,000 crore will be repaid by the government in phases over the next 20 years.

The State Minister said the repayment arrangement would not put pressure on the government.

He also said Denmark would provide Tk 100 crore in assistance for the Rohingyas.

The State Minister said the government would provide necessary support for holding elections to local government institutions. However, the specific timetable and election schedule will be decided by the Election Commission.